The Dark Knight is one of this summer’s most anticipated films. It’s prequel, Batman Begins, is recognized as the definitive Batman film, in a
franchise that has seen many attempts. Christopher Nolan turned the whimsical tone of the previous movies, into the realistic psychological tone of a much darker batman. The Dark Knight, as the title suggests, promises to be even darker. Christian Bale rejoins the cast as Batman and Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are both returning. Katie Holmes, however, has been replaced by Maggie Gylenhaal to play Rachael. There have been the additions of Aaron Eckhart, as district attorney Harvey Dent, and Heath Ledger as the infamous Joker. The tone and public outlook on the movie has gotten even darker since Heath Ledger’s death, and it is largely because of his death that the film will probably make so much money.
Perhaps the most interesting part of The Dark Knight, though, is the huge Internet marketing campaign that has been going on. The film’s creators are treating the whole thing as if it is real. The Joker is portrayed as a real homicidal maniac, Harvey Dent (who later turns into two-face) as a real politician running for Gotham District Attorney, and Batman as, well, the real Batman. Gotham city is a real place, online at least.
When I open all the Dark Knight related websites that I have tabbed, my computer informs me that there are 39. These include everything from Gotham newspapers, banks, police departments, school districts, cab services, security systems, churches, to even delis. These various websites have then led to several huge scavenger hunts in cities all over the world that end in the viewing of a new trailer or other movie-related item. Some of the hunts simply end in phone calls, one in particular from a Lieutenant Gordon that sounded suspiciously Joker-ish. Others, like Harvey Dent’s website, provide fake political propaganda such as bumper stickers (of which I have 5 on my car). The purpose of all of this is, of course, to promote interest in the film.
If I was to go into all of the details, it would take several pages. So instead of doing that, I’ll provide references for any other nerds like myself who happen to be interested in this type of stuff. My Dark Knight “source” is the following website: Batman Fan-Site.
From there, you’ll be able to see past and present news for the film, which opens July 18th.
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